Photos by Nanci Blog

Anais Mitchell Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center Stowe VT December 30, 2011 by Nancy Nutile-McMenemy Anais Mitchel l has done it again! Fresh from touring to promote her critically acclaimed folk opera Hadestown   Mitchell performed before an intimate audience at the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center Friday night December 30, 2011. Originally billed as a solo show, Mitchell announced that she was debuting her "new" band that will be with her to support the February 28, 2012 release of her CD entitled "Young Man in America." This new band includes her husband Noah Hahn and friends Rachel Ries and Ben Davis. Noah Hahn Rachel Ries Mitchell said they had been rehearsing the last few days at her parent's family farm and are very excited about the CD release. Although not on her tour schedule yet, Mitchell said there would be a CD release party at Higher Ground Burlington VT in late February.  The band played for 75 minutes, with Mitchell apologizin...

Holiday Pageant Bethany Mennonite Church For the Vermont Standard Bridgewater VT December 24, 2011 Click here Holiday Potluck South Woodstock Volunteer Fire Station For the Vermont Standard S. Woodstock VT December 18, 2011 Click here Holiday Pageant South Woodstock Church For the Vermont Standard S. Woodstock VT December 18, 2011 Click here Skate with Santa Union Arena For the Vermont Standard Woodstock VT December 18, 2011 Click here Lyle Lovett And His Acoustic Group Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Great Barrington, MA December 17, 2011 Click here G.M.P. Final Show Pleasant Valley Brewing Saxton's River VT December 16, 2011 Click here Little Cayman Beach Resort Reef Divers Little Cayman, BWI December 7-14, 2011 Click here Waldorf Winter Fair Upper Valley Waldorf School For the Vermont Standard Quechee VT December 3, 2011 Click here Breakfast with Santa Hartland Elementary School ...

Saturday, 11/19, 8:00pm The Bushnell - Autorino Great Hall 166 Capitol Ave. Hartford, CT 06106 The Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford CT hosted a FREE concert of the folk opera "Hadestown" on November 19. The Autorino Great Hall was filled with folks curious about the modern day opera penned by a talented singer/songwriter from Vermont. From Anais' Website: Vermont folk singer Anaïs Mitchell’s remarkable folk opera Hadestown is a modern retelling of the Orpheus myth, a tale of a poet’s doomed quest to rescue his wife from the underworld.  In Mitchell’s inspired hands, the familiar saga unfolds in post-apocalyptic modern America, where poverty and hunger force people to make difficult choices in order to survive.  Mitchell will be joined by the Hadestown Orchestra featuring the Chorney Sextet. For more information about Anaïs Mitchell and Hadestown visit  anaismitchell.com/home.html .  More images from the performance: SmugMug Gallery Vi...

Joe Citro Spiritualism in Vermont: Religion, Politics and the Preternatural Presented by Joe Citro , A Vermont Humanities Council Sponsored event. October 19, 2011 Martin Memorial Hall Ascutney VT Hosted by the Weathersfield Proctor Library Library Director, Amity Aldridge DeAngelis introduces Mr. Citro On a dark and rainy Vermont evening, 25 adventurous Weathersfield souls made their way to the basement of Martin Memorial Hall in Ascutney VT to hear about the history of Spiritualism in Vermont. Spiritualism was very popular in the United States in the 19th Century. Many traveling lecturers brought the works of mediums to all corners of the urban and rural regions of the US. In May of 1844 Samuel Morse invented Morse Code and typed out " What hath God wrought" according to Joe Citro, "Four years later, Spiritualism!" Citro explained that Spiritualism moved from being a fade to a religious movement to a religion in America on the late 19th century. This ...

David Bromberg and his quartet are on the road promoting their new CD "Use Me". The crew rolled into White River Junction for a show at Tupelo Music Hall . (As one of the younger audience members, I was impressed by the turnout of the Upper Valley "experienced" music lovers.) The follow up CD to the Grammy nominated "Try Me One More Time" was recorded in a unique manner, Bromberg recruited friends to write, produce and perform songs tailored to Bromberg's style of vocals and guitar. From Bromberg's website: "Answering David’s call were well-known artists from the many genres comprising the amorphous “Americana” musical category. Representing contemporary rootsy singer-songwriters: John Hiatt , the first musician Bromberg approached, who penned the pensive “Ride On Out a Ways” for him; for New Orleans “fonk,” Dr. John ; there’s three-guitar jam band interplay with Widespread Panic and jug band music with Levon Helm (the sprightly “Bri...

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals performed a benefit concert last night October 9, 2011 at the historic Flynn Theatre in Burlington VT. In addition to the concert the band is hosting an online auction with some pretty awesome stuff. The auction can be accessed at http://stores.ebay.com/goodnightirenebenefit .  The concert was also be aired live on Vermont Public Television and was available for streaming on VPT.org . The concert included guests The Logger, Rusty Dewees and Martin Sexton . Martin Sexton Grace and crew played two hours of kick-ass rock and roll for the sold out audience. You can continue to donate even after the concert is in the archives, as funds will be need for a long time to help our friends and neighbors and Vermont's Farmers. The Vermont Community Foundation is a good place to put your money. You can donate directly to them DONATE . Do want you can to help out Vermont!! More concert images can be viewed at: Photos by Nanci/SmugMug More GPN images m...

17 guitars, no set list and Jackson Browne on stage.  What a wild ride it was last night in Albany NY. Browne played before a fairly full Palace Theatre Monday Night October 3. With no set list, the crowd shouted song suggestions prompting Browne to tell stories from the past that had the audience leaning forward in their seats for more information. He covered the late Warren Zevon's "Mohammed's Radio" and Steve "Little Steven" Van Zandt's "I Am A Patriot" Early in the show, during the crowd shouts, Browne said "usually folks ask for either 'Rosie' or 'For a Dancer' should I play both?" More Jackson Browne photos may be viewed on my archived page: http://www.photosbynanci.com/JacksonBrowne2009.html

Anais Mitchell Anais Mitchell and the Hadestown Orchestra performed a benefit concert for the Long Trail School in Dorset VT on October 1, 2011. The audience was treated to the folk opera in its entiretiy, played in sequence to tell the tail of The Orpheus Myth. Michael Chorney   Blogcritics says "It's a musical opera that's unlike any opera you've ever witnessed. It's Indie Rock mixed with Dixieland. It's Homer's Odyssey as performed by Pink Floyd." And Folk and Acoustic Music Review says, "When 98% of what passes as music today lacks even the remotest twinge of an idea, thought, emotion or worse  heart  Hadestown and Anais Mitchell deserve all the listeners and accolades we can give." Anaïs Mitchell's Hadestown tells the story of the ancient Greek myth of the poet Orpheus and his doomed quest to rescue his love Eurydice from the Underworld. But in Mitchell's hands, the familiar saga is reimagined as unfolding i...

Amsden Rte 131  From the Valley News Sept. 2 NEWS: Perkinsville Deals With a Harrowing Sunday  Rte 131 Amsden Tarbell Hill near Rte 106 N toward Reading Perkinsville -- At Downers Four Corners, a landmark intersection here, only Route 106 north through Reading is expected to be reopened to traffic today, while Route 106 south and Route 131 west and a short section to the east remain closed after Tropical Storm Irene tore out chunks of roadway. Rte 106, 200 foot drop, still eroding.

Brook RD Windsor VT Sept 1 Update A note from the Gov. 7 pm: I have spent the past few days traveling the state talking to people who have lost their homes, businesses and livelihoods.  Hurricane Irene devastated many parts of Vermont with torrential rains that caused flash flooding, the likes of which haven't been seen in our small state since 1927 .  The storm took the lives of three Vermonters , closed 260 roads, 30 bridges and over 350 schools, left many communities isolated and over 50,000 without power.   Thanks to the hard work of Vermont officials, FEMA and the National Guard we have made great progress - gaining access to every community in Vermont, r estoring power to 40,000 homes and re-opening 200 roads and over 200 schools .  As we move from rescue to recovery there is much work ahead for Vermont.  Hard work and patience will be required of everyone as we get Vermonters back on their feet.  Reading VT Bridge Repair The...

Made it back to Brownsville VT and  got a lot further than I did on Monday. West Windsor Volunteer Fire and  Brownsville General Store--OPEN FOR BUSINESS!! Around Brownsville and Windsor Vermont Bible Hill Bridge Brownsville VT parts 1, 2 Rte 44 Brownsville VT parts 1, 2, 3 Brook Road Wash Out Windsor VT Windsor/Cornish Covered Bridge Rte 5 Cornfield, Windsor VT West Windsor Fire, Brownsville VT

Rte 106 N Near Downer's Four Corners Reporting Damages Vermonters who have property affected by the storm should report it to the state. There are several phone lines in addition to the 211 number now in operation. Please note that it is critical to acquiring recovery aid that a statewide inventory of the damage is taken. Also, if repairs are made by a property owner, it is important to take pictures of the damage, document the repairs and keep receipts for potential assistance. Individuals: Individuals reporting property damage should call 211. Businesses: Businesses should call the Agency of Commerce and Community Development at (ACCD) at 828-3211 to report damage which will be collated for VEM and FEMA. ACCD will also make referrals for financing and technical assistance. The information needed when businesses make the call is: name of business, location (complete address), description of damage, point of contact, date damage occurred. There are additiona...